I could use some feedback from anyone who has had cervical fusion.

@hutchdw70 Welcome to Connect. I had a fusion of C5/C6 done through the front approach which they call ACDF, or Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion. It is much easier to access the spine because they don't have to go through the muscles that you are using to hold your head up. It does make the throat hurt, and you can loose your voice or have vocal cord paralysis as a risk of the surgery. I was fine. My throat was like half of it forgot how to swallow, so I had to be careful not to swallow wrong and choke. I still can easily swallow wrong, so I am more careful and don't talk while eating.

Healing from ACDF was a lot easier than surgeries for my broken ankle a few years later. It helps to use your hand to stretch neck muscles in front to make it easier for the surgeon. I was able to tolerate my recovery without pain medicine, and that just nauseated me anyway. After 6 weeks, the scar was healed and started to tighten. It takes about 3 months for a fusion to set. My head turning ability is the same as before the surgery.

This discussion may provide more feedback. You can also use the search feature to find others.

Spine Health - "Cervical fusion of C3-C7 after L4-L5 and S1 - What to expect?"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-lumbar-sacral-fusion-issues/

Hi. I agree with everything Jennifer stated; I had ACDF in 2022 but it did not fuse, unfortunately. I had to have it repaired posteriorly last year. Still working on holding my head up- feels like a bowling ball. I’m going to add this caveat, I’ve been an RN for twenty years, I was always told that “once you start messing with the spine, you never stop “. I’m finding this to be accurate. I also had lumbar fusion twice as well. Just make sure you’ve got a great surgeon and do your PT!!

Hello! I had an ACDF for C4-5 in May of 2023. It was done as outpatient surgery. I went into the OR at 7:30. At 10:30, I was moved out of recovery and into a holding room. I stayed there until 2:30PM when I was discharged and my wife drove me home. The surgeon suspected that "some" of my balance issues may be related to the bulging disc at C4-4. The balance issues that I believe to be mostly related to the neuropathy in my feet did not improve after the ACDF. All went well with the recovery. The scariest part, honestly, was that they were going in through the front of my throat...(seemed "creepy" to me, too).... but then the surgeon explained that it is MUCH easier for him to access the cervical spine through the front. They do have to pull the esophagus to the side, and that causes the soreness after surgery... and the difficulty swallowing, which, for ME, lasted just a few days. One tip I will share that someone gave me... when you swallow, hold your chin down toward your chest. I was amazed at the difference that made for me. I made sure to eat soft foods during the first few days afterwards and really had no problem. Each of us is different... and the number of levels being fused will certainly make a difference... but the incision in the front was not the big deal I had feared it would be. And I was surprised that I was going home 7 hours later! I wish you ALL THE BEST if you decide to go through with this surgery... and I hope you will share afterwards if it does, indeed, improve your balance issues. Mike

My ex had that done in 1994 he is doing good. He never complained about any pain and didn't even need pain meds. His was at the C2-C3 I think. I do remember it was near the base of the skull. The doctor said he could have some paralysis but he didn't suffer any paralysis. He's doing good now, we divorced many years later (he was running around on me) Guess he felt much better. LOL

My fear of the anterior approach could damage my swallowing issues that I already have.
I have achalasia which sometimes makes even liquid going down difficult. My last modified barium swallow showed I have right side paralysis from my swallowing down.
I have diffuse c-4 to c-7 narrowing with cord compression but no one wants to touch it 🤷‍♀️

@cheryl46 I know that surgeons at Mayo have been able to operate on professional singers for cervical spine with good results. They can also do surgery from the back. Would coming to Mayo be possible for you? I was a case that surgeons didn’t want to touch because they didn’t understand my symptoms. I had spinal cord compression in my neck and coming to Mayo gave me my life back.

Dear @hutchdw70
Balance problem or unbalance… leg weakness… stink eye (anger - I have not seen the words 🙂 … front of my throat… surgery seems crazy, wild, wow, why, uggg, and creepy 🙂

I’ve been there 9 moths ago for my surgery from my lower back to the top of my rear-end. It took 6 bones within the huge nerve and he fixed it. Before, nerve was hit on my bone and he gotta back. I feel done on my rear-ends 2.5 years ago. I couldn’t cut the grass, couldn’t walk very much, falling down 20 times a day (not kiddin’). That pain from my back-ends to the bottoms of my feet’s until… I got that doctor got rid of pain and it will take time and, now, I exercise a few times a week… by stretching, lifting, walking (and take my care of the 4-wheel thing).

Thx,
Greg D. @greg56xx

PS: 12 years ago, I became the brain-injury man from that bicycle driving.

Oppps… you are young @hutchdw70
My age is close to 69 years-young. We are young and alive… Do the better daily and see of things that would help you… thank fully our state VA, is great on my south-area. And thankfully, my city, that I worked, gives me a batter -clay better - safe of communes, meds, doctors is great!

I have thought about it but follow up would be difficult.
I was there in August with my achalasia and was kind of disappointed because after 10 days of testing they sent me home with a diagnosis of inconclusive. They said you have achalasia here, possible nutcracker esophagus here and esophageal outflow obstruction here so we can't give you a definitive diagnosis.
Also, the main concern is I have spondylitis through out my entire spine with in less than 8 months since previous scan now shows multiple hemangioma's throughout the entire spine.
Not sure where to go, turn at this point.

@cheryl46 I have hemangiomas in my spine too and the doctor said they are benign and nothing to worry about. It represents an area with a different blood flow like a birth mark. As long as this doesn't weaken the spine because the bone is less dense, it shouldn't cause an issue. I have also heard good things about Cleveland Clinic. When I needed spine surgery I was choosing between Mayo and Cleveland. Mayo was closer and we were driving. It sounds like you were not at Mayo for a spine consultation, and for the swallowing issues. You could approach the Neurosurgery department and start fresh if you wanted a spine opinion. What medical centers of excellence are closer to your home?